THE WORK THICKENS. 59 



Hand weeding among onions grown by the new method 

 is not quite so formidable. The transplanted onions have 

 the start of the weeds from the very beginning, and they 

 stand so uniformly, and comparatively wide apart, that a 

 good share of the weeding can be done in a standing posi- 

 tion, and by the use of specially prepared hoes, instead of 

 on hands and knees. In Fig. 29 may be seen the kind of 

 hoes I use and like. The one shown at ^ I find most ser- 

 viceable in working among the onions in the row. It is 

 made by cutting off the sides of the blade of a worn-out 



Fk;. 29. 



Hoes for Onion Weeding. 



ordinary hoe, such as may be found on almost any place. 

 At b you see another way of making a really good and ser- 

 viceable tool out of a useless thing, such as these dull old 

 hoes usually prove to be. At c is shown a weeding tool 

 made by fastening the blade of a Hazeltine w^eder to 

 a hoe handle. The hoe, d, is simply a piece of iron hoop 

 bent as shown, and fastened to a handle. 



Whatever tools of this kind you may have, use them per- 

 sistently enough to keep down all weed growth. As the 

 onions are nearing their full size, they may form such a 

 mat over the ground that wheel hoes cannot be used any 



